
Qass. 
Book. 



Ej±^ 



.-^1 



HISTORY ^ 



C H A R L E S T O W N , 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 



FROM n$ FIRST GRANT BV SHK, PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS IN 
1735, TO THE YEAR 1833. 



BY JAAZANIAH CROSBY, 

PASHpR of the FIRST CHURCH IN SAll> TO\>N. 



C ONCORD: 

^I A R .S H . C A P E N & LYON 

18 3 3. 



lIlSrORY OF CIIARI.ESTOWN 



Charlestown is situate in a delightful and 
fertile valley, bounded on the east by a rano-e of 
high hills, and an the west by Connecticut river^ 
Although they have not, like the mountains and 
rivers of other regions, been made the theme of 
the j)oet's song, it requires but little aid from 
imagination to believe them equally entitled to 
the same honor. But the portion of the town» 
peculiarly adapted to awaken the attention of 
the traveller, is the village. As he views it in 
its secluded loveliness, guarded by the barriers 
of mountain and river, he might pardonably fim- 
cy it secure from the vices, which contaminate 
the world without, and be ready to trace in its 
beauty, and its seeming peacefulness and inno- 
cence, a resemblance to ancient Eden. But let 
him rest, when imagination shall have carried 
him thus far, lest, if his investigation proceed^ 
he fmd that there are not impassable barriers 
against the evils and vices, which are the univer- 
sal portion of mankind. 

The village is situate between tv,o meadows^ 
called the upper and lower meadow. The former 
contains about two hundred acres, and the latter 
(called also the great meadow,) a])o.ut five hun- 
dred. The soil of these is alluvial and exceed- 
ingly fertile in all kinds of produce, necessary 
to the sustenance of man and beast. There are 
other meadows of different sizes, which, together 
with the two already mentioned, contain about 
twelve hundred acres. The length of the town 
is about thirteen miles, and its breadth varies 
from three to four and a half miles. The num- 



4 

ber of inhabitants is about 1700, and has varied 
very little during the last twenty years. 

The first settlement of Charlestown, original- 
ly called Number-Four, (usually written No. 4,) 
was in 1740, under the authority of Massachu- 
setts. The first account found in the records of 
the General Court of Massachusetts, relative to 
the settlement of the banks of the Connecticut, 
now called Charlestown, is a report of a commit- 
tee, stating that it was expedient to lay out a 
range of towns from, or between, the Merrimack 
and the Connecticut, and on each side of the last 
mentioned river. This report was made on the 
15th of January, 1735, and was voted to be con- 
curred in ; but when the committee was appoint- 
ed, or for what purpose, whether for that embra- 
ced in the report, or some other, does not appear 
in the record of the report, nor is any clue to 
it to be found by a careful examination of a full 
index, and of portions of the records, as far back 
as the year 1730. On the subsequent day, (Jan. 
16, 1735,) in pursuance of the above report, and 
its acceptance, a committee was appointed to lay 
put the range of Towns. 

On the 30th of November, 1736, is found in 
the records a report, purporting to be a further 
report of this committee, begging leave to amend 
their first report in consequence of having found 
upon examination, subsequent thereto, of other 
grants and plans, that the lower townships a^ 
first reported, interfered with those laid out and 
designated by the name of the Ashuelot town- 
ships, which interference they had corrected in a 
plan of the townships accompanying the report, 
and submitted for the acceptance of the General 
Court. This report, as amended with the ac- 
companying plan, was voted to be accepted. In 



the records, however, is found no mention of the 
first report; and neither of the reports, nor the 
accompanying plans, are to be found upon the 
flies of the State Papers. In the amended re- 
port, which, as recorded, is very short, and mere- 
ly referring to the plan, it appears that the town- 
ships were numbered successively from 1 to 9 
inclusively ; and that the committee had given 
hearing to applications for grants to persons, 
purposing to become settlers in lour townships, 
and had appointed a time in the month of May 
next ensuing, for a hearing of applications for 
grants in the remaining townships. After this, 
the records are silent with respect to these town- 
ships, as far as shown by the index, until the year 
] 749, June 24>, when a vote was passed for the 
raising of 100 men for the defence of the western 
frontiers, and in assigning the distribution and 
location of these, it is specified, that 25 of them 
should be posted at No. 4, which was the same 
now called Charlestown. 

In June, 22d, 1750, in the bill voted for the 
establishment of forces and garrisons, fifteen 
men, including one captain and one sergeant, 
were voted for the post at No. 4. 

In January,2.3d,1752, in a similar bill, passed 
for the establishment of forts and garrisons, the 
captain, one sergeant, and ten men were voted 
for the fort at No. 4, with a provision, that al- 
lowance should be made to them for billeting, 
4s. 6d. per week for each man. In June 14th, 
1753, it was voted to withdraw the garrison of 
ten men from No. 4, and Capt. Phinehas Ste- 
vens should be officially requested to take charge 
of the arms and stores tliat were public property, 
and keep them safely for the use of the govern- 
ment. On the letter liics is found a copy of a let- 



r, 

irr iVolh the Secretary, Mr. Josiah Willard, to 
Capt. Stevens, requesting him to take this charge, 
ns the government had determined to withdinw 
the garrison. It would appear that this vras af- 
terward rescinded or suspended, probably in con- 
sequence of some remonstrance from the settlers 
of the town, since on the 24th of the ensuing 
January, that is, in 1754, there is a vote to the 
effect, that no more pay be granted to the garri- 
son often men at No. 4, and again directing that 
Capt. Stevens should be directed to take charge 
of the arms and stores. IJence it would appear, 
that the garrison had been maintained several 
months at the expense of the province of Massa- 
chusetts, after the first vote to withdraw it. On 
what grounds this was done, does not appear from 
any thing in the records, in the acts of the Court 
on file, or in the files of letters. The last vote, 
however, appears to have been carried into effect, 
though apparently not wisely ; since on the 26th 
of November, of the same year. Gov. Shirley 
sent a special message to the House, to recom- 
mend to the consideration of the House the pro- 
priety and importance of affording protection to 
No. 4, although the same was within the limits 
of New-Hampshire; stating as the occasion of 
the message, the receipt of a petition presented by 
Capt. Phinehas Stevens and others, inhabitants 
of No. 4, praying for aid on account of their pe- 
culiar exposure to the assaults of the Indians. 
In this message, Governor Shirley dwells on the 
importance of No. 4, as an advanced frontier 
post ; and urges, as a motive, the conciliating of 
the favor of his Majesty, which he thought would 
be especially secured by their granting the aid 
solicited. From some reason or other, no pro- 
ceedings were had upon this message, at least 



none appear on record, till Jan. 9th, 1755, wlieiii 
on consideration of the above petition, it was vo- 
ted, that Capt. Phinehas Stevens should be au- 
thorized by the Captain General to enlist fifteen 
men, to serve from the 15th of February to the 
15th of October next ensuing, or till his Majes- 
ty's pleasure should be known on the subject, 
provided it were signified before said 15th of 
October. 

The force, thus raised, was probably disband- 
ed at the time assigned for the .period of enlist- 
ment, since on the 15th of February, 1756, Gov. 
Shirley sent another message to the House in 
consequence of a petition from the inhabitants 
of No. 4, stating their apprehensions of an as- 
sault from a combined force of French and In- 
dians, and that they had been disappointed in 
their expectation of aid and protection from their 
own government. The message recommends 
them to the attention of the General Court, and 
advises that the aid solicited should be granted. 
No immediate proceedings are recorded as ensu- 
ing on this message, nor is any further mention 
made till June 10th, of the same year, when it is 
recorded, that the General Court having receiv- 
ed and considered the petition of John SpafFord, 
in behalf of the inhabitants of No. 4, praying for 
aid and defence against the Indians, grant to 
him leave to enlist within the province ten men 
to be in pay and subsistence of the province un- 
til their place should be supplied by Gov. Shir- 
ley, or until the further orders of the Court. 

This force was accordingly raised; as on the 
18th of April, 1757, appears the record of a vote 
to dismiss the garrison of ten men kept by the 
province at No. 1, in case Lord Loudoun, then 
the commander in chief of the King's forces 



throughout all the provmces should, us it was 
expected he would do, station there a detach- 
ment of the Royal troops, for the protection of 
the inhabitants. After this, no further mention 
is made of No. 4, in the records of Massachu- 
setts, save a very brief record a year or two sub- 
sequent, to ''slight" the petition of the inhabit- 
ants of No. 4, for aid ; no mention being made 
of the particulars of the petition, or the occasion 
of its presentation. 

The first settlement of Charlestown was by 
three families from Lunenburg, Massachusetts; 
by the name of Farnsworth. During twenty 
years,the inhabitants suffered, with little intermis- 
sion, from the ravages of the French and Indians ; 
and of course, became more familiar with the 
dangers of war, than with the arts of husbandry. 
What have since been denominated the 'peaceful 
labors of the husbandman were then unknown, 
for the tranquillity of the laborer was perpetually 
disturbed by the apprehension of savage incur- 
sions. Instead of enjoying the privilege of sit- 
ting under his vine and fig tree, with none to 
make him afraid, he was obliged to go forth to 
his labors with the implements of war as well as 
with those of husbandry. Even in the temple of 
the God of peace, the worshipper was compelled 
to appear with the weapons of war. 

In 1743, the inhabitants of No. 4, began to 
consult their safety by erecting a fort. It was 
situate a few rods south of the meeting house, 
in front of the late residence of Dr. David Tay- 
lor. It covered about three quarters of an acre, 
and was protected on the north by picket posts, 
about one foot in diameter, and fourteen feet high. 
From the house of Simon Sartwell, near the 
meeting house, was dug a subterranean passage, 





leadino: to Col. Abel Walker's cellar, aiul tliciiee 
to the fort. 

The first depredations by the ejiejiiy on the 
borders of New-Hampshire, were made early in 
the spring of 1746. No. 4 was then, and long 
after, the northern frontier, and of course expos- 
ed to peculiar sufferings. On the 19th of April 
in' the above named year, a party of Indians ap- 
peared at No. 4, burnt the saw and grist mill, 
and captured John Spafford, Isaac Parker, and 
Stephen Farnsworth. The captives were con- 
veyed to Canada, but soon obtained their free- 
dom. 

In the beginning of May, the enemy returned 
to No. 4, and on the second day, while a few 
people were near a barn about sixty rods from 
the fort, eight Indians, who had concealed them- 
selves in the barn, fired upon the party, and kill- 
ed Seth Putnam, one of the soldiers, belonging 
to the fort. Major Josiah Willard, the com- 
mander of the garrison, with two soldiers, ran 
near to them undiscovered; and fired upon them, 
which caused them to retreat in great haste. The 
Indians reported to the prisoners in Canada, that 
at this time, two of their number were mortally 
wounded and died soon after. 

Another contest took place on the 24th of May. 
Capt. Paine from Massachusetts, having arrived 
with a troop of horse, about twenty of his men 
went 50 or 60 rods from the fort to view the 
place where Putnam was killed, and before they 
discovered the enemy, they were attacked by a 
large body of Indians, who immediately endeav- 
ored to cut off their communication with the fort. 
Captain Stevens, the commander of the garrison, 
came out with a body of men for their relief, and 
a severe action ensued, which continued a con- 



10 

siderable time. At last the enemy fled; and, as 
was supposed, witli considerable loss. Stevens 
lost Aaron Lyon, Peter Perrin, Samuel Farns- 
worth, Joseph Allen, and Joseph Marcy. Oba- 
diah Sartwell was captured, and four of his men 
w^ere wounded. The Indians in their haste left 
some of their guns and blankets. 

In the same year, on the 19th of June, a largo 
body of the enemy again appeared at No. 4. 
Capt. Stevens and Capt. Brown, marching with 
about 50 men from the fort into a meadow, dis- 
covered the enemy in ambush, before they had 
time to fire. Stevens began the attack, and a 
severe action was fought. The enemy were re- 
pulsed. Stevens lost none on the spot ; but Jed- 
idiah Winchell was mortally wounded, and died 
soon after. David Parker, Jonathan Stanhope, 
and Noah Heaton, were wounded ; but recover- 
ed. "Several blankets, hatchets, spears, guns, 
&,c. were left on the ground, which were sold for 
forty pounds old tenor." 

A party of the enemy again appeared at No.4, 
on the 3d day of August. Suspicions of their 
appearance were excited by the barking of dogs. 
Scouts were sent out from the fort, and had pro- 
ccieded but a few rods, before they were attack- 
ed, and Ebenezer Phillips was killed. The resi- 
due effected their escape to the fort. The enemy 
surrounded the : garrison, and endeavored for 
three days to take it ; but finding their efforts in- 
effectual, they withdrew, after having burnt sev- 
eral buildings, and killed all the cattle, horses, 
&,c. within their reach. » 

*' In the summer of 1746, Capt. Ephraim 
Brown, from Sudbury, arrived with a troop of 
horse to relieve Capt. Josiah Brown. The Sud- 
bury troop tarried about a month, at the end of 



n 

which they woro reheved by a company, com- 
manded by Capt. Winchester, who defended tlie 
])hice till autumn, when the inhabitants, fatij^ued 
with watching, and weary of the dangers of the 
forest, deserted the place entirely for about two 
or three months. During this recess, the Indians 
and French were so ice-bound in Canada, that 
the frontiers suffered only in apprehension. In 
March, 1747, Capt. Phinehas Stevens, who com- 
manded a ranging company of about 30 men, 
marched to No. 4, and took possession of the 
fort. He found it uninjured by the enemy, and 
an old spaniel and a cat, which had been domes- 
ticated before the evacuation, had guarded it 
safely through the winter, and gave the troops a 
hearty welcome to their tenement.* 

Finding the post entire. Captain Stevens de- 
termined to keep possession of it. *'He had not 
been there many days, when he was attacked by 
a very large party of French and Indians, com- 
manded by M. Debeline. On the 7th of April, 
1747, " our days being very much disturbed, 
gave us reason to think that the enemy were 
about, which occasioned us not to open the gate 
at the usual time. But one of our men being 
very desirous to know the certainty, ventured 
out privately to set on the dogs about 9 o'clock 
in the evening, and went about twenty rods from 
the fort, firing off his gun, and urging on the 
dogs. Whereupon the enemy, being within a 
few rods, immediately arose from behind a log 
and fired; but, through the goodness of God, the 
man got into the fort with only a slight wound. 
The enemy, being then discovered, arose from 
all their ambushments. and attacked us on all 
sides. The wind being verv high, and eycry 

* Mrs. Johnsoirs Cnptivity. 



\2 

thing exceeding dry, they set fire to all the old 
fence. They also set fire to a log house about 
forty rods distant from the fort, to the windward, 
so that in a few minutes, we were entirely sur- 
rounded by fire, all which was performed with the 
most hideous shouting from all quarters, which 
they continued in the most terrible manner till 
the next day at 10 o'clock, at night, without in- 
termission, in which time we had no opportunity 
either to eat or sleep. But notwithstanding all 
their shouting and threatenings, our men seemed 
to be not in the least daunted, but fought with 
great resolution, which undoubtedly gave the en- 
emy reason to think we had determined to stand 
it out to the last degree; and although they had 
provided themselves with a sort of fortification, 
which they had determined to push before them, 
and so bring fuel to the side of the fort in order 
to burn it down; yet, instead of performing what 
they threatened, and seemed to be immediately 
going to undertake, they called to us, and desir- 
ed a cessation of arms until sunrise the next 
morning, which was granted; at which time they 
said they would come to a parley. Accordingly 
the French General, Debeline, came with about 
50 or 60 of his men with a flag of truce, and 
stuck it down within about 20 rods of the fort, 
in plain sight of the same, and said if we would 
send three men to him, he would send as many 
to us; to which w^e complied. The General sent 
a French lieutenant, with a French soldier, and 
made the following proposal, viz.: if we would 
immediately resign the fort, w-e should have our 
lives, and have liberty to put on all the clothes 
we had, and also take a sufficient quantity of 
provisions to carry us to Montreal, and bind up 
our provisions and blankets, lay down our arms. 



13 

and march out of the fort ; and that we should 
be assured of using our clothes and provision 
for our own comfort. Upon our men's return- 
ing, he desired that the captain would meet him 
halfway, and give an answer to the above pro- 
posal. He did not wait to have me give him an 
answer, but went on in the following manner, 
viz.: that what he had promised he was ready to 
perform; but upon our refusal he would imme- 
diately set the fort on lire, or run over the top; 
for he had 700 men with him; and if we made 
any further resistance, and should happen to kill 
one Indian, we might all expect to be put to the 
sword. The fort, said he, I have resolved to 
have, or die. Now do what you please; for I 
am as easy to have you fight, as to give it up. I 
told the General, that in case of extremity, his 
proposal would do; but inasmuch as I was sent 
here to defend this fort, it would not be consis- 
tent with my orders to give it up, unless I was 
better satisfied, that he was able to perform what 
he threatened. I further told him, that it was 
but poor encouragement to resign into the hands 
of an enemy, if, upon one of their number being 
killed, they would put all to the sword, when it 
was very probable we had killed some of them 
already. Well, said he, go into the fort, and see 
whether your men dare fight any more, and give 
me an answer quickly ; for my men want to be 
fighting. Whereupon I went into the fort, and 
called the men together, and informed them what 
the General said, and then put it to vote whether 
they would fight, or resign ; and they voted to a 
man to stand it out ; and also declared, that they 
would fight as long as they had life, rather than 
go with them. Upon this I returned the answer, 
that we determined to fight it out ; upon which 



li 

they gave a shout, and so continued hrinfj and 
shouting, till day light next morning, it being 
now about noon ; but they never had the courage 
to bring their fortification, nor run over the fort ; 
but in lieu thereof, they spent the night in shoot- 
ing their fiery arrows, which were easily put out. 
The next morning at day light, they called to us 
and said, 'Good morning,' and desired a cessa- 
tion of arms for two hours, at which time, they 
said they would come to a parley, and perhaps 
make peace with you ; and their desire was grant- 
ed; and they accordingly came with a flag of 
truce, as before; but the proposal, which they 
were now about to make, was so f^ir difierent 
from the former, that the General did not care 
to make it himself; but sent two Indians, who 
came within about eight rods of the fort, and 
5tuck down their flag, and desired that I would 
send out two men to them, which I accordingly 
did. Upon the men's coming to them, they made 
the following proposals: that in case we would 
sell them provisions, they would engage to go 
and leave us, and not fight any more; and then 
desired the men to go into the fort, and desire 
the captain to send an answer. Whereupon I 
sent out the following answer, viz.: as to sell- 
ing them provision for money, it was contrary to 
the law of the nation ; but if they would send in 
a prisoner for every five bushels of corn, I would 
supply them ; and upon the Indians returning the 
answer to the General, four or five guns were 
immediately fired against the fort, and then they 
withdrew, as we supposed ; for we heard no more 
of them; it being now the 10th of April, 2 o'clock 
in the afternoon. In all this time we had scarce- 
ly opportunity to eat or sleep. The cessation 
of arms gave us no great matter of rest; for wc 



15 

supposed they ditl it to j^et an advantage against 
us. I believe men were never known to hold 
out with hotter resolution; for they did not seem 
to desire to sit or lie still one minute; for those 
who were not employed in firing at the enemy, 
were employed ill digging trenches under the bot- 
tom of the tort. We dug no less than eleven of 
them so deep, that a man could go and stand up- 
right on the outside, and not endanger himself; 
so that, when these trenches were finished, we 
could wet all the outside of the fort, which we 
did, and kept it wet all night. We drew some 
hundreds of barrels of water; and to undergo all 
this hard service, there were but 30 men; and 
though there w ere some thousands of guns shot 
at us, we had but two men slightly wounded, 
John Brown and Joseph Ely."* 

An express was immediately despatched to 
Boston, and the intelligence was there received 
with great joy. Com. Sir Charles Knowles was 
so highly pleased with the conduct of Captain 
Stevens, that he presented him with a valuable 
and elegant sword, as a reward for his bravery. 
From this circumstance the town, when incorpo- 
rated, received the name of Charlestown."! 

On the 21ith of August, 1747, as twelve men 
were passing down the river on their return from 
the fort to Massachusetts, they were surprised 
and attacked by the Indians ; and Nathan Gould 
and Thomas Goodall, were killed and scalped. 
Oliver Avery was wounded, and John Hender- 
son taken. The residue escaped. 

On the 15th of March, 1748, while about eight 
men were a few rods from the fort, they were at- 
tacked by about twenty Indians, wlio endeavor- 

* MS. Letter of Capt. Phinolias Stevens to Cal. W. Williams. 
t Belknap's Hist. New-Hanipshirc. 



16 

ed to cut off their retreat to the fort. A skirmish 
ensued, in which Charles Stevens was killed, a 
man by the name of Androus, or Anderson, 
wounded, and Eleazar Priest taken captive. 

" In the month of May, a scout of eighteen 
men under Capt. Eleazar Melvin, marched from 
Charlestown to reconnoitre the woods toward 
Lake Champlain, and arriving opposite to Crown 
Point, they discovered and fired upon two canoes 
of Indians. This drew out a party from the fort, 
who endeavored to intercept the scout on its re- 
turn to Connecticut river, and by a rapid march, 
the enemy gained the front, and Melvin soon 
crossed their trail, and concluding that they would 
take a route toward Charlestown, he resolved to 
strike the Connecticut at Fort Dummer, and 
thereby avoid the enemy. On reaching West 
river, he halted on the 25th, and very imprudent- 
ly permitted his men to divert themselves in 
shooting salmon, then passing up the shoals of 
the river. The enemy, unknown to Melvin, were 
then in close pursuit on his trail, and hearing the 
report of the guns, pressed on to the spot, and 
gave tlic incautious scout a sudden fire, which 
threw it into contusion, and scattered the men in 
various directions. A small party, however, 
rallying, returned and engaged the enemy; but 
were soon overpowered, and compelled to retreat. 
Melvin with eleven reached the fort, having lost 
the residue, all valuable men."* 

In May, 1749, intelligence was received of the 
cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and 
France. But the end of incursions by the ene- 
my was not yet; for in the following June, after 
the evacuation of the fort by the principal part 

* Antiquarian Researches by E. Hoyt, Esq. 



17 

of the troops, Obadiali Sartwell was killed, while 
ploughing among his corn, and the rider, Enos 
Stevens, son of the defender of the fort, was cap- 
tured and carried to Canada; but he was soon 
released and returned. These were the last de- 
prcidations on the frontiers during the Cape Bre- 
ton war ; and a final treaty of peace with the In- 
dians was concluded on the following September. 
Relieved in a measure from their fears of sav- 
age invasion, the inhabitants for a season, went 
forth to their labors with more encouraging pros- 
pects. Although their knowledge of the charac- 
ter of their former enemies did not permit them 
to consider the period completed, when they 
might safely beat their swords into plough shares, 
and their spears into pruning hooks ; yet were 
their hopes daily increasing^ that to-morrow 
would be as this day, except more abundant in 
its tokens of peace and prosperity. While the 
continuation of peace was apparently abating the 
resentment of the Indians, it proportionally re- 
laxed the vigilance of the men's suspicions, and 
enabled them to engage with increasing fearless- 
ness in the duties of their vocation. After the 
autumn of 1752, the inhabitants of No. 4, made 
less use of the fort, and ventured more boldly 
miiy their fields. All indications of hostility at 
length disappeared. The Indians seemed dispos- 
ed to traffick, the people were quiet from fear of 
evil, — the wilderness and solitary places began 
to be glad, and the desert to blossom. But soon 
were these appearances exchanged for melancho- 
ly presages of a repetition of the horrors of In- 
dian hostilities. The commencement of the year 
1754, exhibited indications of a renewal of war 
between England and France; and as the line 
between Canada and the English colonies was a 



IS 

subject of contention, it may be easily supposed, 
that the frontiers Avould be exposed to pecuUar 
danger. "No sooner had the alarm of hostilities, 
which commenced between the English and 
French in the \vestern part of Virginia, spread 
thro' the continent, than the Indians renewed their 
attacks on the frontiers of New-Hampshire." 
Aug. 29,1754, the house of Mr. James Johnson, 
was visited in the evening by a party of neigh- 
bors, who passed the time with melons, and the 
then usual accompanrments, till about midnight. . 
The family then "retired with feelings well tuned 
for sleep," from which they were awaked be- 
tween daybreak and sunrise, by a Mr. Laboree, 
who came for the purpose, of working for Mr. 
Johnson. When Mr. Johnson opened the door, 
the house was immediately filled by a crowd of 
Indians, who captured the wliole household, con- 
sisting of Mr. Johnson and wife, Sylvanus, Su- 
san, and Polly Johnson, their children; Miriam 
Willard, sister to Mrs. Johnson, and Peter Lab- 
oree, and Ebenezer Farnsworth. A Mr. Os- 
mer, who lodged in the chamber, escaped detec- 
tion by concealing himself behind a box. The 
next day after this capture, Mrs. Johnson was 
delivered of a daughter, which, from the circum- 
stances of its birth, was named Captive. The 
Indians tarried one day for the accommodation of 
31 rs. Johnson, and on the next resumed their 
march, carrying her awhile on a litter, made for 
the purpose; and afterward placing her on horse 
back. Instead of meeting the fate, which she 
apprehended from her inability to march with 
convenient speed, Mrs. Johnson was treated with 
unexpected humanity, and great care was shewn 
in protecting and nursing her infant. Scoggin, 
the horse, was killed during their march to sup- 



19 

ply the want of provisions. Soon after tlieir ar- 
rival at Montreal, a parole of two months was 
granted to Mr. Johnson, that he niiglit return, 
and obtain the means of redemption. By apply- 
ing to the Assembly of New- Hampshire, he ob- 
tained, after some time, one hundred and fifty 
pounds sterling. But the season was so far ad- 
vanced, and the winter so severe, that* he did not 
reach Canada till spring. He was tlien accus- 
ed of breaking his parole ; a great part of his mo- 
ney was taken from him l)y violence; he was 
shut up with his family in prison, where tliey 
took the small pox. After eighteen months, Mrs. 
Johnson, her sister, and two of her daughters, 
were sent in a cartel ship to England, and thence 
they returned to Boston. Mr. Johnson was de- 
tained in prison three years, and then, with bis 
son, returned, and met his wife in Boston, where 
he had the singular ill fortune to be suspected of 
designs, unfriendly to his country, and wa& again 
imprisoned, but no evidence appearing against 
him, he was liberated. His eldest daughter was 
retained in a nunnery at Canada." Previously 
to the liberation of Mr. Johnson's family, Mr. 
Laboree made his escape from Montreal, .and af- 
ter a long and tedious journey, during three days 
of which he travelled through a swamp to avoid 
discovery by the enemy, arrived at New York, 
nearly at the same time with the others. Mr. 
Farnsworth returned before. 

The age of Sylvanus Johnson, at tlie time of 
his capture, was six years. During his absence 
he had entirely forgotten the English language; 
but became perfect in ihfi Indian. He had learn- 
ed a little of the French language, having resid- 
ed with the French about one year. He lived 
with the Indians three years, and his habits and 
3 



20 

feelings were fornied accordingly. He had ac- 
companied them in their hunting excursions, and 
become accustomed to their hardships. So 
strongly were the habits of his Indian masters 
fixed upon his youth, that seventy four years, 
passed in the peaceful occupation of husbandry, 
were not sufficient to eradicate them. He retain- 
ed to the hour of his death, many, if not most of 
the feelings and customs, ingrafted on his mind 
by his long residence with the aborigines. He 
has often expressed his regret at having been 
ransomed; and has always maintained, that the 
Indians were a far more moral race than the 
whites. He died at Walpole in 1832, at the age 
of 84 years, leaving the reputation of an honest 
and upright man. 

On the 21st of September, 1754, the commis- 
sioners of Indian affairs, at Albany, were inform- 
ed by Charles Cook, of French and Indian ex- 
traction, that, on his way from Cahgnawaga 
thither, he had met a party of twenty one Indians, 
who had been fighting at Charlestown, alluding 
doubtless, to the capture of Johnson's family. 
He said he asked them why they had been fight- 
ing, since it was peace? They answered, that 
was nothing: for the English at the fort No. 4, 
had some time past poisoned two Indians; when 
at the same time they were sitting and discours- 
ing together, and seemed to be good friends, by 
giving them a dram at night, and in the morning 
they were both dead. Also, that the English, 
sometime after, killed three Indians below 
Charlestown; and because the people of New- 
England killed these five, they had taken five in 
their room, and that they were now paid. 

On the 8th of Sept. 1755, the inhabitants re- 
presented to the government of Massachusetts 



21 

their distresses, occasioned by their Indian ene- 
mies in kilHng their cattle, compelHng them to 
neglect their fields for the defence of their per- 
sons, and thus inducing the danger of a loss of 
their crops. The petition for assistance was 
signed by Micah Fuller, Thomas Adams, Simon 
Sartwell, Moses Wheeler, Daniel Sartwell, 
J,ames Whiting, John Hastings, jr. John Spaf- 
ford, John Hastings, Seth Putnam, Moses Wil- 
lard, Isaac Parker, David Farnsworth, and 
Ebenezer Putnam. 

On the 18th of June, 1756, while Lieut. Mo- 
ses Willard was endeavoring to extinguish the 
fire, which had been kindled in his fence, he was 
attacked by the Indians, and killed behind the 
barn of the late Capt. John Willard, and near 
the academy. At the same time, his son Moses 
was wounded in the hip by a spear, which is said 
to have remained in the wound till after his re- 
treat into the fort. It is further said, that a Mr. 
Preserved Clap carried the same spear into the 
revolutionary war. Mr. Willard died Aug. 17, 
1832, aged 84 years. 

Early in the spring of 1757, a regiment, under 
Lieut. Col. GofTe, was ordered by Gen. Webb, 
to repair to No. 4; but previously to their arri- 
val, the place was visited by a party of French 
and Indians, in number about 70. About a mile 
from the village, and near Spaffbrd's mills, where 
Mr. Hall's now stand, they captured, on the 
20th of April, Deacon Thomas Adams, while on 
his way to the opposite hill for the purpose of 
making sugar. They tied him to a tree, and on 
their way to the village took Mr. David Farns- 
worth. They burned the mills, being a saw and 
a grist mill, and captured Sampson Colefax, the 
miller. They then went to Claremont, as far as 



22 

Sugar river, and there'took Thomas Robbins and 
Asa Spafford, while on a hunting excursion, — 
both belonging to Charlestown. They then re- 
turned to Charlestown and fired upon 15 or 20 
men behind Capt. Willard's barn. Farnsworth 
found means to effect his escape from Canada, 
and returned home. The others were exchanged 
on the November following their capture, and oh 
their return toward home by w ay of Great Britain, 
all died of the small pox at Cluebec. 

In August, 175S, a party of Indians appeared 
at Charlestown; killed Asahel Stebbins,* made 
prisoner of his wife, and Isaac Parker, and kill- 
ed many cattle, feeding in the adjacent woods. 
Mention is somewhere made of the capture of a 
Mrs. Robbins and David Hill, at the same period. 

The last captives, made by the Indians at 
Charlestown, were Mr. Joseph Willard, his v^ife, 
and five children. They were taken on the 7th 
of June, 1760, in the lower meadow, about two 
miles from the village. On their way to Canada, 
the infant was lost in a manner knoion to the 
Indians only, and another of the children died at 
Crown Point, while the family were on their re- 
turn to Charlestown. 

It is the testimony of Mrs. Johnson, yea, the 
universal testimony of the captives, that no in- 
stances occurred of wanton cruelty by the In- 
dians ; but that on the contrary, they manifested 
a disposition to alleviate their sufferings. When 
feeble, they assisted them in travelling ; and in 
cases of distress from want of provisions, they 
shared with them an equal proportion. 

We here leave the political history of the place 
for transactions more particularly local. At a 
great and General Court, held in Boston, the 

* He vva» killed at a. place called Meadow Brook, but ever »ince called the 
Ainbiikli. 



23 

24th day of November, 1736, Thomas Wells, 
Esq. of Deerfielfl, was empowered to assemble 
the Grantees of No. 4, to choose a moderator, a 
proprietor's clerk, and a committee to allot and 
divide their lands. 

The township was granted to sixty proprietors 
on condition, that each should build a dwelling 
house, of at least eighteen feet square, and seven 
feet between joints, on their respective house lots, 
and fence in, and break up, or clear and stock 
with grass, five acres of land within three years 
next after their admittance, and cause their res- 
pective lots to be inhabited ; and that the gran- 
tees do, within the space of three years after their 
admittance, build and finish a convenient meet- 
ing house for the public worship of God, and set- 
tle a learned and orthodox minister. 

The first meeting of the proprietors was on 
the fifth day of April, 1737, when a committee 
was appointed to lay out 63 lots, sixty for the 
proprietors, two for the ministry, one of which 
was to be for the first settled minister, and one 
for schools. 

The first corn mill and saw mill, erected at 
No. 4, were completed in August, 1744; and 
their completion, as it is said, was then deemed 
an event of sufficient novelty and importance to 
be celebrated by music and dancing. 

In 1751, ninety pounds, old tenor, was voted 
at a town meeting for the encouragement of a 
blacksmith to settle in No. 4.* 

On the 2d of July, 1753, the proprietors ob- 
tained a charter from Benning Wentworth, Gov- 
ernor of the province of New-Hampshire, grant- 
ing them a tract of land, containing six square 
miles, with all the privileges and appurtenances, 

* Proprietor's R«corcls. 



24 

upon coiiclition, "that every grantee, his heirs, 
and assigns, shall plant and cultivate five acres 
of land within the term of five years for every fifty 
acres of land, contained in his, or their share, 
and continue to improve and settle the same by 
additional cultivation, on penalty of the forfeiture 
of his grant, or share in said township, and its 
reverting to his Majesty, his heirs, and succes- 
sors, to be by hini; or them, regranted to such 
of his Majesty's subjects, as shall effectually 
settle and cultivate the same." A reservation 
here follows of all white, and other pine trees, 
fit for masting the Royal navy, with the requisi- 
tion from every proprietor of an annual rent of 
one ear of Indian corn during the ten succeeding 
years, and afterward of one shilling, proclama- 
tion money, for every hundred acres. 

The first meeting for the choice of town offi- 
cers, and for the transaction of other business, 
was holden on the second Tuesday in August, 
1753. The time was appointed by the govern- 
ment, who appointed also Phinehas Stevens, Esq. 
as moderator. The first town clerk was John 
Hastings, and the first select men were Phinehas 
Stevens, John Hastings, and John Spaffbrd. In 
the w^arrant, calling the meeting, is the article, 
" to see whether the town will adopt measures 
to provide some convenient place for public wor- 
ship for the ensuing winter." At the meeting 
no attention appears to have been paid to this 
article; but at a town meeting in April, 1754, 
the inhabitants voted to repair the great chamber" 
for a place of worship, and £2 13s. 4d. were vo- 
ted for the repairs. 

On the 13th ol May, 1754, a vote was obtain- 
ed for the settlement of Mr. John Dennis, in 
the work of the ministry; and for his e?icoura^e- 



25 

ment to settle, the town voted to pay him annu-» 
ally fifty pounds lawful money, to be equal to 
silver at six shillings and eight pence per ounce; 
and also to provide for him a sufficiency of fire 
wood, brought to his house, and cut cord wood 
length. At the request of Mr. Dennis, they af- 
terward, previously to his ordination, made an 
addition of three pounds, six shillings, and eight 
pence. On the 4-th of December a small church 
was formed, and on the same day Mr. Dennis, 
was ordained. So great were the apprehensions 
of the people of hostile invasion by the Indians, 
that the ordination was at Northfield, at the dis- 
tance of forty miles. In about six months, diffi- 
culties arose in consequence of the imprudent,. 
if no ivorse, conduct of Mr. Dennis ; but the peo- 
ple, under the influence of that charity, which is 
ready to provide a suitable covering for faults,. 
** consented to a reconciliation, and agreed to 
establish the Rev. John Dennis in the ministry,, 
and to fulfil their contract, provided he does 
agreeably to what he has professed and declared 
in writing to the community ; that he has entire- 
ly dropped, and will drop, his addresses and suit 
to Eunice Farnsworth; and shall not for the fu- 
ture give the town occasion to fault him for fal- 
lacy and prevarication." But it is the misfor- 
tune of most disorders of this character to gather 
strength from the means adopted for their reme- 
dy. In the present instance, the difficulties 
were healed so slightly, that they soon made 
their appearance in an aggravated form. On the 
31st of March, 1756, a council was convened at 
Deerfield, when the pastoral connexion between 
Mr. Dennis and his flock, was dissolved. The 
pastors convened for this purpose, were those of 
Keeneand Swanzey, Sunderland, Hatfield, Deer- 



field and Northfield. Mr; Dennis had previously 
to his settlement at Charlestown, served as chap- 
lain to several garrisons at the eastward. He 
was thus occupied ten or eleven years. He was 
a native of Ipswich, Massachusetts, and died 2 
Septenihcr, 1773, having nearly completed his 
65th year.* 

The vote for building the first meeting house 
in Charlestown, was passed August 11th, 1760. 
The town then voted to build a log house for 
public worship, of the following dimensions, viz.: 
34 feet long, twenty wide and eight between 
joints; and to place it on meeting house hill. 
They voted also, twenty pounds lawful money 
td be levied on the inhabitants for building the 
house, provided so much should be needed. A 
committee was appointed to see to and forward 
the building, with directions, that it should be 
completed by the last day of the next September. 
On the 17th of the following October, the town 
voted to raise the further sum often pounds law- 
ful money, for the purpose of "finishing the house 
so far, as to build seats, glaze the house, finish 
the pulpit so far as needful, make window shut- 
ters, and calk the said house." 'fu'l ot 

On the 14th of the following November, the 
town voted to invite Mr. Bulkley Olcott, to 
settle with them as their minister; to give him 
the whole of the right of land, commonly called 
the minister's right, and to give him also the sum 
of one hundred pounds, lawful money, of the 
province of Massachusetts Bay. In Feb., 1761, 
they voted to give Mr. Olcott forty five pounds 
sterling or silver or gold equivalent thereto, the ' 
first year; and to make an annual addition of 
thirty shillings, till his salary should amount to 

* Farmer's MenioriaU of tlio Graduates of Harvard Univ. in MS. 



21 

f)0 pounds sterling, or silver or gold equivalent, 
to pay half the salary at the end of six months 
after his ordination, and the other half at the close 
of the year, to proceed in this way during his 
ministry among them. 

To these last mentioned proposals, Mr. Ol- 
cott acceded, and was ordained May 28, 1761, 
He is represented as respectable in talents, ac- 
ceptable as a preacher, and peculiarly affable 
and useful in his visits from house to house. 
"During the whole of his ministry his solicitude 
for the happiness of his parishioners, was con- 
spicuous in the, benefits which he conferred, and 
in the attachment with which they were requited. 
As a divine, he was pathetic, devout and instruc- 
tive; and may with propriety be said to have 

^ ' AUur'd to brighter worlds, and lead the way.' " 

He continued in the ministry at Charlestown, 
till June 26th, 1793, when he was removed by 
death. 

It appears, that another church whs organized 
under the ministry of Mr. Olcott, consisting of 
the pastor, Isaac Parker, Seth Walker, Seth 
Putnam, Stephen Farnsworth, Ebenezer Put- 
nam, Thomas Putnam, Joel Mathews, William 
Hey wood, and John SpafTord. 

On the 29th of May, 1796, the church met for 
the first time after the death of their pastor, and 
chose Deacon Thomas Putnam as the standing- 
moderator of the church, and Dr. Samuel Crosby 
as clerk. 

During the period of 17 years after the death 
of Mr. Alcott, the parish was destitute of regu- 
lar ministrations. For a considerable'portion of 
that period they were variously supplied, but 
principally by the Rev. Dan Fostkr, who, afler 
4 



28 

a temporary settlement in Connecticut, and after- 
ward in Vermont, fixed his residence in Charies- 
town, where he died in March, 1809. 

The present incumbent,* was ordained on the 
17th of October, Ir^lO. In the nortli parish no 
minister has ever been settled, nor a church or- 
ganized. 

When the restoration of peace had quieted the 
fears of the people, they began their preparations, 
in 1763, for the erection of a building fifty two 
feet long, forty two wide, and twenty five be- 
tween posts. For this purpose, they raised the 
sum of sixty pounds, Of the progress o£ the 
work for more than two years and an half from 
its commencement, we have merely the informa- 
tion, that a preparation of materials, and the se- 
lection of a site for the building, were the only 
results of their exertions. In August, 1765, some 
unexpected occurrences, — probably deficiencies 
in means, — so weakened the hands of the build- 
ers, that the work ceased till Ocfober, 1767. At 
this period they resumed the work, and again 
obtained a vote to raise the sum of sixty pounds. 
In December of the same year, a committee was 
appointed to superintend the erection and cover- 
ing of the frame. By gradual progression it be- 
came a place of worship in 1768. Thirty and 
five years was this temple in building; for ac- 
cessions and renovations continued till 1798, 
when it received its last repairs, and last addi- 
tions. 

The first vote found in the town records, re- 
specting schools, was passed in August, 1763; 
when it was voted, that there shall be a school 



[* Rev. Jaazaniah Crosby, a native of Hebron in this State, and a de- 
scendant from Simon Crosby, one of the first settlers of Billerica, who was son, 
it is believed, of Simon Crosby one of the earliest settlers of Cambridge. Mr. 
Groaby was graduated at Harvard University, 1809. — Editors.] 



29 

kept in (he town for the future, and that it shall 
be kept in different parts of the town in propor- 
tion to what each part shall pay toward said 
school. 

In 1768, the small pox made its appearance in 
the main fort, of which six or seven died; brought 
in by some of the British soldiers. 

In May, 1768,Capt. Simon [?] Stevens was cho- 
sen a representative, to represent the town in 
the General Assembly, at Portsmouth; the first 
representative of Charlestown, 

In May, 1770, a vote was passed by the town, 
that the burying yard should be cleared, and 
fenced with a good and sufhcient board fence, 
and that a burying cloth should be purchased for 
the use of the town. 

In March, 1770, the town voted to raise, and 
assess on the inhabitants, twenty seven pounds 
for the benefit of schools. At the same time it 
was voted, that the town should be divided into 
three districts, and that each district should 
draw out an equal proportion, according to their 
other assessment, to be converted to the use 
aforesaid ; that they should otherwise forfeit their 
proportion, or such part thereof, as shall not be 
appropriated to the use aforesaid, to the use of 
such district, as shall convert the same to the 
use aforesaid. 

On the 19th of March, 1771, the provmce ot 
New-Hampshire was divided into five counties, 
when Charlestown became a half shire. The 
Superior Court, however, did not hold their ses- 
sions here till a considerable time after. 

In August, 1771, John Hastings, Jr. was 
chosen grand juror, to serve at his Majesty's Su- 
perior Court, "to be holden at Keene on the third 
Tuesday of the following September; and at an 



30 

ndjouriied meeting a few days after, "a box heii)^- 
prepared according to law," Lieut. Samuel 
Hunt was drawn to serve as petit juror at the 
same court. Capt. Sylvanus Hastings was the 
first grand juror for the Court of General Ses- 
sions, and Scth Walker, Jr. the first petit juror. 

On the 2kh of October, 1771-, Lieut. Samuel 
Hunt, and Elijah Grout, were chosen as a com- 
mittee to join with other committees from the 
several towns in the county, who were to assem- 
ble at the house of Capt. John Bellows, in Wal- 
pole. It is recorded, that the committee from 
Charlestown were furnished with instructions; 
but of their nature, or the object of the meeting 
at Walpole, no information is given. 

On the 19th of Jan. 1775, Mr. Elijah Grout 
was chosen to represent Charlestown, at Exeter, 
on the 25th of the month, to choose delegates to 
send to the general Congress, to be holden at 
Philadelphia the next May. 

In August, 1775, Samuel Hunt, Wm. Hey- 
wood, Abel Walker, Samuel Stevens, Esq. and 
Elijah Grant, were appointed a committee of 
safety for the town of Charlestown. 

In June, 1776, Samuel Wetherbe, Jotham 
White, and Ebenezer Farnsworth, were appoint- 
ed a committee for preparing a place to receive 
persons infected with the small pox, or who 
should accidentally take it. 

On the Oth of February, 1778, it was voted, 
that the representative of this town be instructed 
to assent to all the articles of confederation, as 
proposed by Congress, except the 8th article, 
relative to which he is instructed to use his en- 
deavor to procure such alleviation, as that the 
charges and expenses may be defrayed in the 
United States, and be proportioned on all estates, 



3i 

ieal or personal, as has been usually practised 
in this State; and that this town instruct their 
representative at the next session, to use his en- 
deavor to appoint and call a full and free repre- 
sentation of all the people in this State, to meet 
in Convention at such time and place, as they 
may appoint, for the sole purpose of framing and 
laying a permanent plan, or system, for the fu- 
ture government of this State. 

In May, 177S, Col. Samuel Hunt was chosen 
to represent Charlcstown, at a convention to be 
holden at Concord on the 10th of the Ibllowing 
June. At the same time it was voted, that 200 
pounds be raised to defray the expenses of those 
families, whose heads were engaged in the con- 
tinental army. 

On the Sth of December, 1778, Capt. Samuel 
Wetherbe, was chosen to represent Charlestown 
at a convention to be holden at Cornish, on the 
2d Wednesday of the month. The object of this 
convention was the adjustment of difficulties, 
which had arisen between Vermont, and the 
towns admitted into their confederation on the 
eastern side of Connecticut river. In June, 1778, 
sixteen towns in New-Hampshire, representing 
" that they were not connected with any State, 
with respect to their internal police," request- 
ed to be received in union with the State of 
Vermont. After much deliberation and hesitan- 
cy the Assembly of Vermont granted their peti- 
tion ; and further resolved, that any other towns 
on the east side of the Connecticut river, might 
be admitted into the union by a vote of a majori- 
ty of the inhabitants, or by sending a representa- 
tive. In the Assembly of Vermont, convened at 
Windsor, a question arose, "whether the towns 
on the east side of Connecticut river, which had 



32 

l)(jeji juhiutled inio union with Vermont, should 
ho tbnned into a county by tliemselves ; and the 
vote passed in the neijative. The memhers from 
these towns then v»ithdrew from the Assembly, 
and were followed by fifteen of the representa- 
tives from some of the towns in Vermont, adjoin- 
ing the river, with the deputy governor, and two 
assistants. The members, who had withdrawn 
themselves from the Assembly, formed into a 
convention, and gave an invitation to the towns 
on both sides of Connecticut river, to unite, and 
to meet with them in a convention at Cornish, 
N. H. Dec. 9, 1778. The people on both sides 
of Connecticut river wished to form a government, 
the centre and seat of which should be upon the 
river.* 

On the 9th of March, 1779, Josiah Hunt was 
drawn as juryman to serve at the Court to be 
holden at Charlestown the next April. At the 
same time, Capt. Samuel Wetherbe was chosen 
to serve as grand juror at the Court of General 
Sessions of the peace, first to be liolden at Charles- 
town on the first Thursday following the second 
Tuesday in April next. At the same time, 
Messrs. Elijah Grout and Simeon Olcott, were 
appointed a committee to give instructions to 
their representative respecting the grants on the 
west side of Connecticut river. 

On the 16th of August, 1779, Elijah Grant, 
Samuel Wetherbe, Peter Laboree, Constant 
Hart, and Bradstreet Spafford, were appointed 
a committee to hire and jKiy five men, called for 
out of the town, to enter the service, and pay 
them their respective bounties. 

Sept. 13, i779, Coi. Samuel Hunt was chosen 
to represent Charlestown. agreeably to the re^ 

* William''* flistorv of Vermont. 



3S 

quest of ihe selectmen ol" Porisnioiuh, at a con- 
vention to be bolden at Concord the 22d of the 
month. 

On the 7th of December, 1779, the town vot- 
ed to }3ay Constant Hart the suni of sixty poimds 
for going to Newbury, in Coos, to engage, and 
pay the bounties of several continental soldiers, 
who enlisted during the war for said Charles- 
town; also, to pay said Hart eighteen pounds 
for keeping a continental woman, while sick, and 
for transporting said woman to Walpole. 

On the 13th of November, 1780, Col. Samuel 
Hunt and Dr. William Page, were chosen to 
join a convention of committees from the several 
towns in this county, to be holden at Walpole 
on the 15th of the month. 

On the 8th of December, 1780, Col. Samuel 
Hunt, Dr. William Page, and Capt. Samuel 
Wetherbe, were appointed to represent Charles- 
town, in a convention there to be holden on the 
third Tuesday of the next January. 

The convention was holden at Charlestown 
on the day appointed, and was attended by dele- 
gates from 43 towns. A majority voted in favor 
of uniting with the State of Vermont. 

On the 16th of the following April, the town 
voted, " that, whereas this town has, since the 
commencement of the present vear, been at sun- 
dry times called upon for beef, money, &.C., by 
the State of New-Hampshire, they will not pay 
to the said State any of the articles above men- 
tioned." 

On the 3d of the following May, upwards of 
forty of the inhabitants of Charlestown^ took the 
freeman's oath, required by the State of Ver- 
mont . 



34 

On the 8th of August, ITSS, the iuhahitants of 
Charlestown agreed to comply with the demand, 
made ]>v an act of the General Assembly for 
1781, and which, on the 16th of April, 1781, they 
had peremptorily refused to answer. 

'* The continental Congress having proposed 
and recommended such an alteration in the 8th 
article of the confederation, as to make the popu- 
lation of the several States, instead of the value 
of the granted land therein, the rule for the ap- 
portionment of national taxes," the town voted, 
on the 2d of September, 1783, that they would 
not make the proposed alteration in the 8th arti- 
cle of the confederation. On^the same day they 
voted, that the Chief Magistrate of this State 
have the title of President. 

On the 29th ol January, 1788, the town chose 
Benjamin West, Esq. to represent Charlestown, 
in a convention to be holden at Exeter, on the 
second Tuesday of the following ^February, for 
the investigation of matters, relative to the Fed- 
eral Constitution. 

Since the above mentioned period, Charles- 
town has " kept the even tenor of its way," and 
furnished no incidents worthy of particular men- 
tion. With respect to that quiet and peaceable 
life, which passes without observation, the inhab- 
itants of the place have been rather a peculiar 
people; an honorable, though unlionored dis- 
tinction. Charlestown is not distinguished as a 
place of business, having very few of the privile- 
ges, necessary to the manufacturer; and is re- 
garded as less favorable for the acquisition of 
property, than pleasant for expending it. The 
salubrity of the place may be inferred from the 
fact, that during the twenty four last years, the 
annual number of deaths in the south parish, con- 



35 

taining l)etween ten find eleven hundred inliab- 
itants, lias been fourteen only ; and from the fur- 
ther circumstance, that an uncommon number of 
the deceased, arrived at a good old age. Of those 
who died in this period, the ages of sixty four, 
(the youngest of them !)eing seventy,) make an 
average of seventy nine years for each. Of the 
sixty four, two died at the age of 90 years, one, 
93, and one 97. The oldest person, now living 
in Charlestown, is a Mr, Carpenter, aged 95. 
The oldest native of Charlestown, now living in 
the place, is the widow of the Hon. John Hub- 
bard, and daughter of Capt. Stevens, the brave 
defender of the fort.* She was born in the fort, 
in 1750. 

Of the public characters furnished by Charles- 
town, we can make but a cursory mention. The 
Hon. John Hubbard, was many years county 
treasurer; was appointed judge of probate for 
the county of Cheshire, 10 July, 1789, and con- 
tinued in office until the close of 1797. He died 
in ISOO, at the age of 54 years. 

Hon. Samuel Stevens, son of Capt. Phine- 
has Stevens, was often the representative from 
Charlestovvii ; was six years one of the counsel- 
lors of the State, and many years register of 
probate, in which office he continued till his 
death, at the age of 88 years. He died 17 No- 
vember, 1823, " By the blessing of the upright 
the city is exalted." 

Col. Samuel Hunt, an active military officer 
in the French and revolutionary wars, was set- 
tled in Charlestown in 1759, and was appointed 
the first sheriflf of the county, under the new con- 
stitution, in 1784, and filled the office till his 
death in 1799. 

* Soc note :it tlie close of lhi« history. 

5 



3G 

Hon. Simeon Olcott, a native of Bolton, 
Connecticut, was graduated at Yale^College in 
1761, commenced theqiractice of law in Charles- 
town; was appointed chief justice of the court of 
common pleas, in 17S4; associate justice of the 
superior' court in 1790; chief justice in 1795; 
and senator in Congress in ISO I. In his inter- 
course with society he was distinguished hy that 
charity, which thinketh no evil, and does good, 
as it has opportunity ; and in the character of 
judge, he manifested less regard for the letter of 
the law, than for the spirit of .equity. He died 
in 1815, aged 79. 

Hon. Benjamin West, was graduated at 
Harvard College, in 1768;^ settled in Charles- 
town in the practice of the law; was a memher 
of the convention for accepting the Constitution 
of the United States ; was > elected memher of 
congress, hut declined the office; was an elector 
of President and Vice President of the United 
States ; and a memher of the Hartford Conven- 
tion. ''At the bar he was among the first of his 
profession. His application, learning, and integ- 
rity, gave him great, and merited influence." He 
died in 1817, aged 71.* 

Among the distinguished features of the vil- 
lage, are its neatness, its long and pleasant street, 
shaded by a row of elms on one side, and a row 
of maples on the other ; and its regularly located, 
well proportioned, though not splendid, build- 
ings. But the building, worthy of special obser- 
vation, is the church, erected in 1820, at the ex- 
pense of seven thousand and five hundred dollars. 
Its materials are brick, and its dimensions, 70 
feet in length, 60 in breadth, and 32 between 



* See a full Memoir of tliifl distiiigiiislieil gentleman in Knapp's Skefijies of 
eminent lawyers, &c. 



37 

joints. It contains an elegant and excellent or- 
gan, purcliased in 1829, at the expense of about 
1200 dollars. It occupies a conspicuous place 
precisely in the centre of the village. "Of the 
order of architecture, to which it belongs, we 
cannot speak with any confidence, as its found- 
ers, with a fearlessness and independence, pecu- 
liar to New-England, paid no deference to the 
ideas of elegance, entertained either by their 
contemporaries, or predecessors, but fashioned 
it according to their own taste ; and satisfied with 
the result of their labors, they did not trouble 
themselves with the invention of a name, justly 
thinking, that, to the uninitiated, it was a matter 
of no consequence; and that to all, acquainted 
with the mysteries of architecture, the work 
would speak for itself." 

A few rods north of the meeting house, on the 
opposite side of the street, is the bank, a neat, 
well proportioned building of brick, erected in 
1824. The capital is a hundred thousand dol- 
lars. 

Opposite to the bank, on a lane, leading east- 
ward from the main street, stands the deserted 
court house; deserted, it having been considered 
expedient in 1827,* that ' the place of judgment' 
should thenceforward be at Newport. On the 
opposite side of the main street, and not far dis- 
tant from the court house, stands its natural ac- 
companiment, the jail, rapidly hastening to disso- 
lution. It is to receive no repairs, since a re- 
ceptacle of a similar character is probably to be 
erected in a more suitable meridian. 

About a mile and a half from the village, there 
is in erection across the Connecticut, a bridge 

* The county of Ohn?Iiiic was (liviilcil in 1827, and in Sr'))tctnl)er of the eanic 
ve.ir, was tlic last session at Charlestown of the Court of Comnifin Pleas. Tlic 
last (tession nf llic Siiperioi' ( 'oin't v. ;is in 1825, or I82(>. 



between Charlcstown and Spnogiicid, Vt. of 
**an elegant structure, supported by two piers of 
p:ran!te, with abutments of tlie same materials. 
Tlie piers are about forty two feet high, the floor 
of the bridge being about thirty two feet from low 
water mark. The piers are sixty two feet long 
at the bottom, and sixteen wide. On the up- 
stream side of each pier, and united w ith it, is 
an inclined plane of granite, and capped with 
oak timber, bolted to the stone work, to receive 
and break the ice, and other obstructions, which 
may float against them. The base of the inclin- 
ed plane is about 25 i'eet. The piers are secured 
by iron bolts, and bars, running from the down 
corners angularly to the centre. The super- 
structure is 506 feet long, and 25 wide, and is 
built upon the plan of Ithiel Downes' patent. It 
is supported upon the piers at distances of 168 
feet Irom the centre of each pier. The support 
of the superstructure is by two continued trellis- 
es 15 feet high, one on each side, and extending 
through the whole length of the bridge. These 
trellises are composed entirely of sawed plank 
three inches thick, and twelve inches wide, plac- 
ed diagonally in the form of lattice work, having 
two string pieces on each side at top and bottom, 
the whole being secured together at each inter- 
section by four two inch treenails, and without 
the aid of iron work of any description, and with- 
out mortice or tenon, or any cutting of the plank 
other than by the auger. The trellises are closely 
boarded on the outside, and the whole is covered 
with a handsome shingled roof, resting on the 
top string pieces. The bridge is to be lighted 
in the day by six dead lights in the sides, and 
six glazed s-ty-lights in the roof; and in the night 
by large lamps, suspended from the centre of the 
beam over head." 



3» 

The contractors for erect in <i; the !)ri(lge, are 
Mr. Isaac Damons and Mr. 'Lyman Kingsley, 
of Northampton, Mass. ; to the former of whom 
we are indebted for the above description of the 
bridge. The stone work is under the superin- 
tendence of Mr. Isaac Silsby of Charlestown. 
It is estimated, that the expense of the bridge 
will be twelve thousand dollars. 

About a mile from the village, and on the spot 
where Spaftbrd's mills were burnt in 1746, and 
again in 1757, and where recently stood the mills, 
erected in 1804i by Oliver Hall, Esq. there is now 
in erection by his son, Mr. Horace Hall, a grist 
mill of a superior structure, and of durable mate- 
rials. The edifice is a square, the breadth ofits 
sides 40 feet, and its height on the west end is 80 
feet. The materials of the front and corners are 
granite, and the residue of stone from the neigh- 
boring hills. The whole edifice is founded on a 
rock, and during the preparations for the founda- 
tion, were discovered among the rubbish, frag- 
ments of the mills burnt by the Indians. The 
diameter of the waterwheel is 28 feet; and its 
weight about six tons. The extent of the fall is 
between 40 and 50 feet, and the borders on the 
stream beneath are beautifully variegated by 
trees and shrubs ; tlie whole in the direction of 
the stream exhibiting a peculiarly romantic ap- 
pearance. 

In the village of Charlestown are tv/o libra- 
ries, one consisting of about 400 volumes and 
the other of 480. 

Of the religious character of Charlestown, it 
is reported to have been said by ivay of reproach, 
that they cared too little for religion even to 
quarrel about it. That they care too little; that 
they manifest far less, than the desirable inter- 



40 

est in the subject, it would be presumptuous to 
deny; but that they are, in such deficiencies, a 
j^eculiar people, it would be equally presumptu- 
ous to suppose. We cannot but hope, that no 
inconsiderable portion in their apparent failure in 
the comparison, sometimes made, arises from 
their impression, that religion was designed for 
salutary effect rather than for display ; that it is 
its chief purpose to make and preserve the heart 
right with God, and not to secure the observa- 
tion of man ; that its best display is the work of 
righteousness. We have adverted to the gener- 
al disposition of the people to lead quiet and 
peaceable lives ; but whether they do it in godli- 
ness and honesty, must be determined before a 
tribunal, at which neither they, nor their accu- 
sers, are to preside. 

Charlesfoivn, October, 1833. 

[Note. — While this article was printing, tlie following Petition was found iii 
the hands of one of the publishing committee, and is inserted on account of sev- 
eral facts it contains relative to this brave man. It is copied from the original 
by the author of these Annals.] 

To the Hon. Spencer Pliips^ Esq. Lientenant Governor and Com- 
mander in Chief of iliis Province, the Hon. His Majeshfs 
Council, and House of Hepreseniatives in General Court flssem- 
hledj this I'^lh^ day of June, Anno Domini^ 1750. 

The Memorial of Phinehas Stevens, ofJVo. 4, 
humbly sheioeth, 

That upon his enlisting himself a volunteer in 
his Majesty's service for the then intended expe- 
dition against Canada, he removed his family, 
viz., his wife and six children to Rutland from 
No. 4, expecting himself soon to set out for Ca- 
nada on the said expedition ; and that upon the 
delay of that expedition the memorialist was, by 
directions from his Excellency, the Captain Gen- 



41 

eral, ordered into the frontiers of the Province, 
and was constantly employed in the frontiers, 
either in guarding stores to fort Massachusetts, 
or No. 4. or in keeping the fort at No. 1, till the 
said expedition was laid aside, and the Canada 
forces dismissed ; in which time he defended the 
said fort No. 4, from a very vigorous attack of 
the enemy, and his other services in that term he 
humbly hopes were acceptable to the Province, 
where he was at very great and uncommon ex- 
pense in supporting his family at a distance from 
his station ; and as his expenses, so, he humbly 
conceives, his constant labors and services for 
the Province in that term, distinguish his case 
from that of most, if not any of the officers, who 
enlisted themselves for the Canada service. He 
therefore prays your honorable consideration of 
the premises, and that your Honors would grant, 
that he may be allowed the common allowance 
for a soldier for subsistence during the said term ; 
and your memorialist, as in duty bound, shall 
ever pray. 

PHINEHAS STEVENS. 

In the House of Representatives, June 13th, 
1750, read and ordered, that the memorialist be 
allowed out of the public treasury, the sum of 
ten pounds eight shillings, in full consideration 
for his expenses above mentioned. 

Sent up for concurrence. 

D. HUBBAP^D, Speaker. 

In Council, June 13, 1750, 
Read and concurred. 

SAM'L. HOLBROOK, 

Dep'y. Sec'ry. 
Consented to. S. PIIIPS. 



i^OV 11 tS03 



nTO^^raslBS 




014 013 523 9 



